Jul 9, 2011

Sombra de toro (Jodina rhombifolia)

Native to Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia Jodina rhombifolia belongs to the Santalaceae family. Its name is derived from the Greek word 'ios', meaning grey-green. It is a small, armed tree which can reach 12 m in height with a more or less spherical canopy. The trunk is strong, rugous, and greyish-brown. The foliage is persistent, dark green and lucid. Leaves are simple, rhomboid, glabrous, alternate, coriaceous, with spinescent vertices, bearing 3-7 cm long spines. Flowers are small, yellowish-green, 5-numerous, apetalous, starlike, perfumed and arranged in axillary clusters. The dialysepalous calyx is made up of 5 segments, with a 5-lobed fleshy disc. The ovary is unilocular, having a single style. Flowering occurs in autumn. The 5 perianth valves extend basipetally upon fruiting. In the mature fruit the outer exocarp dehisces leaving a white, fleshy inner exocarp covering on a stony mesocarp. The sweet-tasting fruit is red, drupaceous and rugose, around 1 cm in diameter. It ripens in spring. The aerial parts of this species are employed in folk medicine, mainly for the treatment of digestive problems and, externally to heal skin ulcers and other skin diseases such assrash carcinoma or nasal polyps (D'Avila, 1910; Corrêa, 1969; Simões et al., 1998). However, despite the wide utilization in different regions of South America, chemical and pharmacological studies of Jodina rhombifolia are rather scarce (Biavatti et al., 2007). Propagation can be achieved through seeds. It has a slow rate of growth.

Why bilingual? For starters, Spanish is my native tongue. Secondly, English is still the universal language and the blog is meant to be accessible for anyone on the globe who is into Nature conservancy; particularly in getting to know Uruguay's flora and fauna.

"Hunting is merely a cowardly circumlocution for the cowardy murder of fellow creatures who do not have a chance. Hunting is a variant of human mental illness" Theodore Heuss (First president of the Republic of Germany; 1884-1963)

"When I was twelve, I went hunting with my father and we shot a bird. He was laying there and something struck me. Why do we call this fun to kill this creature who was as happy as I was when I woke up this morning?" (American and Canadian football coach, 1925-)

"May I walk unceasingly on the banks of my river, may my soul repose on the branches of the trees which I planted, and may I may refresh myself under the shadow of my sycamore tree".Egyptian tomb inscription, circa 1400 AD

"We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, other animals and the trees."Chief Edward Moody, Qwatsinas, Nuxalk Nation

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if promontory were... Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for thee".John Donne, English Metaphysical poet (1572 - 1631)